1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
I think the Proscenium venue would be the most beneficial for the audience. All of the action occurs inside the house and mainly in the kitchen so the proscenium view would allow the audience to get a close up look of the inside of the house. This play is very much about detail so this more intimate style will give the best view for the audience to draw connections throughout the play.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the design team?
Some of the main events of the play are sizably small so this would make it hard for the audience to see. For instance, the bird with its neck wrung will be hard for the audience to see. A bird is small as is and then the manner in which the bird died will be even hard to project to the entire audience visually.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character?
I think the women should be dressed in vibrant colors and in dresses to demonstrate their femininity. I think the men should be in a suit and tie to express their status as men in this time period. The play is really focused on women so the vibrant colors of their dresses should attract the attention of the audience. I also think it adds to the condescension the women experience from the men as if wearing vibrant colors diminishes their intellectualness in some way. Thus to draw light to the sexism in the play which is demonstrated by the men with their mockery of femininity.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production?
I think the lighting should be dark to add to the solemnness of the women in the beginning and the unavoidable eeriness that comes with a murder. However, when the excitement picks up as the women decide to hide evidence I think the lighting should brighten some. I also think the light should be used to identify the important details of the play such as the trifles and the birds.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play.
With any murder case scenario, I think there should be dramatic music at some key theatrical parts, such as when the ladies find the dead bird. I also think the music should intensify when the women decide to hide the bird to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, in suspense of if the women will get caught. I also think the music should be slow and solemn when the women are talking amongst each other about their plights as women.
1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
I think the Proscenium venue would be the most beneficial for the audience. All of the action occurs inside the house and mainly in the kitchen so the proscenium view would allow the audience to get a close up look of the inside of the house. This play is very much about detail so this more intimate style will give the best view for the audience to draw connections throughout the play.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the design team?
Some of the main events of the play are sizably small so this would make it hard for the audience to see. For instance, the bird with its neck wrung will be hard for the audience to see. A bird is small as is and then the manner in which the bird died will be even hard to project to the entire audience visually.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character?
I think the women should be dressed in vibrant colors and in dresses to demonstrate their femininity. I think the men should be in a suit and tie to express their status as men in this time period. The play is really focused on women so the vibrant colors of their dresses should attract the attention of the audience. I also think it adds to the condescension the women experience from the men as if wearing vibrant colors diminishes their intellectualness in some way. Thus to draw light to the sexism in the play which is demonstrated by the men with their mockery of femininity.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production?
I think the lighting should be dark to add to the solemnness of the women in the beginning and the unavoidable eeriness that comes with a murder. However, when the excitement picks up as the women decide to hide evidence I think the lighting should brighten some. I also think the light should be used to identify the important details of the play such as the trifles and the birds.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play.
With any murder case scenario, I think there should be dramatic music at some key theatrical parts, such as when the ladies find the dead bird. I also think the music should intensify when the women decide to hide the bird to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, in suspense of if the women will get caught. I also think the music should be slow and solemn when the women are talking amongst each other about their plights as women.